'Respect,' 'Gratitude,' and a Pay Freeze

President Obama's fiscal 2012 budget has this to say about his proposal for a two-year federal pay freeze:

"The men and women who serve their fellow Americans as civilian federal workers are patriots who work for the nation often at great personal sacrifice; they deserve our respect and gratitude. But just as families and businesses across the the country are tightening their belts, so too must the federal government. ... This freeze does not reflect on the performance of federal workers; rather it reflects the shared sacrifices we must make."